National Servicemen's Association of Australia

Queensland Inc.

Click here to view the photos of our wonderful 20th anniversary Birthday Party THE ORIGINS OF THE NATIONAL SERVICEMEN’S ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA The late Barry Vicary founded the National Servicemen's Association of Australia in Toowoomba, on the 28th November 1987 . A National Serviceman in 1965, Barry sought a better deal for those who served in support units in Australia, Malaysia and Papua-New Guinea and a medal recognising National Service. The Association was later expanded to include the 1951-1959 scheme. That first meeting was in the Toowoomba RSL and later in Queens Park where a lunch was served. Present were Barry Vicary , the late Dennis Connon , Ken Coates, Keith Junnich and Dan Cuddihy . The Association they founded now is Australia-wide and the second largest ex-service organisation after the RSL. National Service Day, 14 February, commemorates the day the last National Servicemen marched out of camp.

Under this tree a seed was planted twenty years ago.	This was our first meeting place.

The late Barry Vicary was a Nasho with a vision. He was called up for the Vietnam war but served his two years in Australia. That meant he and 44,000 others weren’t entitled to veterans’ benefits such as a war service home loan, gold card or pension. So in 1987 he got a couple of mates together in Toowoomba and formed the National Servicemen’s Association of Australia for a better deal for all Nashos. There already was a small Ex-National Servicemen’s Association in Rockhampton but they declined his offer to merge. What Barry didn’t know was that there was an earlier and much larger National Service scheme until our State Padre, Noel Wallis, applied to join. Barry immediately widened the Association and today it is the second largest ex-service organisation in Australia with Branches in every State and Territory. Now we’re planning a big 20th birthday party in Toowoomba in October next year to pay tribute to Barry and his mates.

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20th ANNIVERSARY ROUNDUP

The National Servicemen’s Association saluted its founder, Barry Vicary and his colleagues at the 20 th anniversary celebrations in Toowoomba from 17 to 21 October 2007. More than 500 Nashos from around Australia were present. A seat (above) bearing a plaque was dedicated to Barry’s memory during a service at the State National Service Memorial in Mothers’ Memorial Park

Earlier, National Servicemen, after assembling at the Toowoomba East State Primary School under the control of Parade Marshal Ian Turner, paraded down Margaret Street to the Memorial led by the National President, Mr.Earle Jennings and the National Servicemen’s Memorial Pipes and Drums. The Association’s Queensland Patron, Major-General Kevin Cooke took the salute with State President Colin Bell; the Federal Minister for Industry, Tourism and Resources, the Hon. Ian McFarlane MP and the Mayor, Cr.Di Thorley. Three members of the original committee were present – Bill Morriss. Lawrie Asgill and Keith Jannusch.

Toowoomba Grammar School cadets provided the guard on the Memorial as Earle Jennings and Colin Bell laid wreaths honouring the 212 National Servicemen who died on active service and all who have died since

The NSAA provided the flag party under the command of State Secretary, John Brosnan

MEET AND GREET Nashos and their partners had a wide variety of social events while in Toowoomba. These included two concerts with Normie Rowe, Little Pattie, Denise Drysdale, Wally the Worker and Col Elliott; tours of local attractions, the Meet and Greet and the 20 th Birthday Dinner.

Special guests were our Patron, Major General Kevin Cooke, AO, who commanded Nashos in the CMF and in Vietnam; the Mayor of Toowoomba. Cr.Di Thorley; Lawrie Asgill, one of our founders; and Korean veteran Des Cowell who not only was a Nasho, but became an instructor at Wacol with SMC member, Noel Findlay.

Another highlight was the presentation by Warren Cockburn (at right) President of South Burnett Branch, of an Honour Board commemorating our founders. There were three of them present, together with two of Dennis Connons’s daughters and our longest-serving President, Colin Bell. Barry Vicary’s widow, Mary, was unable to be present. From left to right Bill Morriss, Tracy Connon, Karen Connon, Colin Bell, Lawrie Asgill, Keith Jannusch and Warren Cockburn. The Honour Board will hang in State Headquarters at Camp Hill, in Brisbane.

SUBSCRIPTIONS TO RISE

The annual subscription for members will rise to $30 following approval by the overwhelming majority of delegates in a vote at the Toowoomba conference.

Other subscriptions will rise proportionately - Supporters to $8; Life Subscribers to $250 for 50s Nashos and $350 for 60s Nashos and Life Subscribed Supporters to $90. New members will remain at $36.

The Treasurer, Warren Hegarty, said costs of running the Association had risen particularly for items such as insurance, rates, electricity, postage, telephones, office supplies and purchases such as badges and other merchandise. The printing and distribution of Nasho News was the principal expense. He said it was the first increase in subscriptions for several years.

President, Colin Bell, pointed out that in cases where members, particularly pensioners, had difficulty paying their annual subscription, most Branches assisted from their Welfare funds.

USE OF LOGO

The President outlined the rules for use of the NSAA logo on Branch merchandise. He said it must be approved by the State Management Committee . Branches are able to produce a particular product for sale for their own funds. Examples are the leather wallet sold by the Caboolture branch; belt buckles by Gold Coast North and the Nasho clock by Ipswich and West Moreton Branch.

THE ROWLAND WILLIAMS MEMORIAL SHELL

The Association’s award for outstanding service in 2007 has gone to the Chairman of the Wacol Heritage Precinct Management Committee, Ivan Davis. President, Colin Bell, presented him with the Rowland Williams Memorial Shell, which has been refurbished and the name plates renewed

Ivan, a Vietnam veteran, is a tireless worker for the Precinct with his wife, Coral. He served at Wacol when it was a regular Army base from the 1960s to late 80s.

The first presentation was to Mary Vicary, wife of our founder, the late Barry Vicary. In a change from previous years, the Shell will be kept on display in the museum at the Heritage Precinct. Ivan received a Shield for permanent display at home.

OTHER AWARDS

The Barry Vicary Memorial Award for the greatest increase in membership in the preceding 12 months went to the Townsville Branch. The John Seymour Award for the highest membership retention went to Maryborough Branch.The Dennis Connon Award for the greatest percentage increase in membership went to Bundaberg BranchThe Peter Ryan Award, for outstanding work by a Branch was won by Coral Coast. Branch President, Andy Warnes (left), received it from State President Colin Bell.

HONOUR BOARD

The Association’s first Committee in 1987 has been recorded on an Honour Board presented at the Toowoomba Conference marking the NSAA’s 20 th birthday. It was made by the South Burnett Branch.

The solid polished timber board bears the names of Barry Vicary, Dennis Connon, Lawrie Asgill and Keith Jannusch. Both Lawrie and Keith, together with Dennis Connon’s daughters, were present at the handover during the 20 th anniversary dinner. The Board will be mounted on the wall near the main Honour Board at State Headquarters at Camp Hill in Brisbane.

BY-LAWS

Two sub-committees will review the Association’s insurance policies.

The rising cost of building and property insurance plus professional indemnity is a major problem for the NSAA. Another sub-committee will review the Association’s by-laws following the presentation of a Guide to Meeting Procedures by the Treasurer, Warren Hegarty.

BOOK LAUNCH

The Association’s history from 1987 to 2007 was launched at the Toowoomba conference to mark the 20 th anniversary. The authors, Dr.Noel Wallis and Allen Callaghan, outlined the NSAA story in words and pictures, some of them not seen before. State President, Colin Bell, supervised the work . ( At left, Allen Callaghan is kept busy signing copies on the night). Apart from the Association’s own history, the book includes the Brief History of National Service and the National Service Honour Roll in alphabetical order which records the names of the 212 Nashos who died on active service in Borneo and Vietnam.

The book, with colour and black and white illustrations, is available from State Headquarters at PO Box 7014 Holland Park East 4121 for $25 plus postage.

PLAQUES

Branches who have erected plaques with 187 as the number of National Servicemen who died on active service have been asked to replace them so that future generations will know the correct figure is 212. The incorrect figure was supplied by the Defence Department in the 1990s. The Toowoomba Conference approved that the cost of the new plaque could be taken from the Branch Welfare account. The consensus amongst official sources is that the total number who served is 287,000.

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THE STATE BRANCHES

South Australia was the first State Branch outside Queensland , formed in 1993 with Don Richards as President.

The first Victorian Branch was formed at Mildura on 31 October 1993 . with Bill Crosbie as President. He became State President with the formation of the Victorian Branch on 27 November 1994 .

The New South Wales Branch was formed on n with Michael Skuse as President.

The Tasmanian Branch was formed in February 1997 with Ian McDonough as President.

The West Australian Branch was formed on 22 November 1996 with Oliver Lovelle as President.

The Northern Territory Branch was formed in July 2005 with Bob Crowell as President.